Monoclonal antibody therapeutics with up to five specificities: functional enhancement through fusion of target-specific peptides.

The recognition that few human diseases are thoroughly addressed by mono-specific, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) continues to drive the development of antibody therapeutics with additional specificities and enhanced activity. Historically, efforts to engineer additional antigen recognition into molecules have relied predominantly on the reformatting of immunoglobulin domains. In this report we describe a series of fully functional mAbs to which additional specificities have been imparted through the recombinant fusion of relatively short polypeptides sequences. The sequences are selected for binding to a particular target from combinatorial libraries that express linear, disulfide-constrained, or domain-based structures. The potential for fusion of peptides to the N- and C- termini of both the heavy and light chains affords the bivalent expression of up to four different peptides. The resulting molecules, called zybodies, can gain up to four additional specificities, while retaining the original functionality and specificity of the scaffold antibody. We explore the use of two clinically significant oncology antibodies, trastuzumab and cetuximab, as zybody scaffolds and demonstrate functional enhancements in each case. The affect of fusion position on both peptide and scaffold function is explored, and penta-specific zybodies are demonstrated to simultaneously engage five targets (ErbB2, EGFR, IGF-1R, Ang2 and integrin αvß3). Bispecific, trastuzumab-based zybodies targeting ErbB2 and Ang2 are shown to exhibit superior efficacy to trastuzumab in an angiogenesis-dependent xenograft tumor model. A cetuximab-based bispecific zybody that targeting EGFR and ErbB3 simultaneously disrupted multiple intracellular signaling pathways; inhibited tumor cell proliferation; and showed efficacy superior to that of cetuximab in a xenograft tumor model.

Simultaneous targeting of TNF and Ang2 with a novel bispecific antibody enhances efficacy in an in vivo model of arthritis.

Despite the clinical success of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies in the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease and psoriasis, full control of the diseases only occurs in a subset of patients and there is a need for new therapeutics with improved efficacy against broader patient populations. One possible approach is to combine biological therapeutics, but both the cost of the therapeutics and the potential for additional toxicities needs to be considered. In addition to the various mediators of immune and inflammatory pathways, angiogenesis is reported to contribute substantially to the overall pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The combination of an anti-angiogenic agent with anti-TNF into one molecule could be more efficacious without the risk of severe immunosuppression. To evaluate this approach with our Zybody technology, we generated bispecific antibodies that contain an Ang2 targeting peptide genetically fused to the anti-TNF antibody adalimumab (Humira®). The bispecific molecules retain the binding and functional characteristics of the anti-TNF antibody, but with additional activity that neutralizes Ang2. In a TNF transgenic mouse model of arthritis, the bispecific anti-TNF-Ang2 molecules showed a dose-dependent reduction in both clinical symptoms and histological scores that were significantly better than that achieved by adalimumab alone.

BLyS and APRIL form biologically active heterotrimers that are expressed in patients with systemic immune-based rheumatic diseases.

BLyS and APRIL are two members of the TNF superfamily that are secreted by activated myeloid cells and have costimulatory activity on B cells. BLyS and APRIL share two receptors, TACI and BCMA, whereas a third receptor, BAFF-R, specifically binds BLyS. Both BLyS and APRIL have been described as homotrimeric molecules, a feature common to members of the TNF superfamily. In this study, we show that APRIL and BLyS can form active heterotrimeric molecules when coexpressed and that circulating heterotrimers are present in serum samples from patients with systemic immune-based rheumatic diseases. These findings raise the possibility that active BLyS/APRIL heterotrimers may play a role in rheumatic and other autoimmune diseases and that other members of the TNF ligand superfamily may also form active soluble heterotrimers.

Novel peptide inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a recently identified human homolog of ACE, is a novel metallocarboxypeptidase with specificity, tissue distribution, and function distinct from those of ACE. ACE2 may play a unique role in the renin-angiotensin system and mediate cardiovascular and renal function. Here we report the discovery of ACE2 peptide inhibitors through selection of constrained peptide libraries displayed on phage. Six constrained peptide libraries were constructed and selected against FLAG-tagged ACE2 target. ACE2 peptide binders were identified and classified into five groups, based on their effects on ACE2 activity. Peptides from the first three classes exhibited none, weak, or moderate inhibition on ACE2. Peptides from the fourth class exhibited strong inhibition, with equilibrium inhibition constants (K(i) values) from 0.38 to 1.7 microm. Peptides from the fifth class exhibited very strong inhibition, with K(i) values < 0.14 microm. The most potent inhibitor, DX600, had a K(i) of 2.8 nm. Steady-state enzyme kinetic analysis showed that these potent ACE2 inhibitors exhibited a mixed competitive and non-competitive type of inhibition. They were not hydrolyzed by ACE2. Furthermore, they did not inhibit ACE activity, and thus were specific to ACE2. Finally, they also inhibited ACE2 activity toward its natural substrate angiotensin I, suggesting that they would be functional in vivo. As novel ACE2-specific peptide inhibitors, they should be useful in elucidation of ACE2 in vivo function, thus contributing to our better understanding of the biology of cardiovascular regulation. Our results also demonstrate that library selection by phage display technology can be a rapid and efficient way to discover potent and specific protease inhibitors.

Generation and characterization of LymphoStat-B, a human monoclonal antibody that antagonizes the bioactivities of B lymphocyte stimulator.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize a fully human antibody directed against B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), a tumor necrosis factor-related cytokine that plays a critical role in the regulation of B cell maturation and development. Elevated levels of BLyS have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. METHODS: A human phage display library was screened for antibodies against human BLyS. A human monoclonal antibody, LymphoStat-B, specific for human BLyS was obtained from the library screening and subsequent affinity optimization mutagenesis. The antibody was tested for inhibition of human BLyS in vitro and in an in vivo murine model. Additionally, the consequences of BLyS inhibition were tested in vivo by administration of LymphoStat-B to cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: LymphoStat-B bound with high affinity to human BLyS and inhibited the binding of BLyS to its 3 receptors, TACI, BCMA, and BLyS receptor 3/BAFF-R. LymphoStat-B potently inhibited BLyS-induced proliferation of B cells in vitro, and administration of LymphoStat-B to mice prevented human BLyS-induced increases in splenic B cell numbers and IgA titers. In cynomolgus monkeys, administration of LymphoStat-B resulted in decreased B cell representation in both spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: A fully human monoclonal antibody has been isolated that binds to BLyS with high affinity and neutralizes human BLyS bioactivity in vitro and in vivo. Administration of this antibody to cynomolgus monkeys resulted in B cell depletion in spleen and lymph node. This antibody may prove therapeutically useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in humans.